Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre expressed concerns on Monday about the targeted attacks on Christians and their places of worship. He promised to address religious hate crimes, specifically focusing on tougher penalties for offenses like arson if he becomes the elected leader.
During a discussion on rising food prices, Poilievre highlighted the disturbing trend of church burnings, referring to them as “terrorist attacks” aimed at Christians. He emphasized that approximately 100 churches have been set ablaze, noting that Christians appear to be the primary victims of hate-motivated violence, despite the reluctance to acknowledge this fact openly.
Recent data from Statistics Canada revealed that the majority of hate crimes directed at religious groups in 2023 were against Jews (70%) and Muslims (16%). The total number of hate crimes targeting religions significantly increased by 67% from the previous year, with a notable rise in incidents involving Jewish (900 hate crimes) and Muslim (211) communities.
While hate crimes against Catholics spiked in 2021 following revelations about the Kamloops Indian Residential School, the number of reported crimes has since decreased. Nonetheless, there have been ongoing attacks on Christians and their churches, as evidenced by recent incidents, including the arson of a historic Ukrainian Orthodox Church near Edmonton and several other churches across Canada.
A study by the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, based on government data, reported a surge in arson attacks on religious institutions between 2021 and 2023 compared to the preceding three-year period. The Prairies and B.C. were identified as regions disproportionately affected by these crimes.
Poilievre condemned the anti-Christian hate crimes and vowed to take decisive action to combat them. His proposed measures include mandatory prison sentences for offenders, stricter legislation against hate crimes, deportation of foreign criminals, and increased support for law enforcement agencies.
In his statement, Poilievre emphasized that all Canadians, regardless of their faith, deserve the right to worship peacefully. He underscored the importance of safeguarding religious freedom and ensuring a safe environment for all individuals to practice their beliefs without fear of violence or discrimination.
